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| "Opinions": acrylics, junk papers collage, digital. |
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We are in luck! Good friend, Elenor from Austria has gifted us with some of her beautiful photography, and since I will most likely make it to Austria, she brings it to us to enjoy and appreciate.
Elenor wrote, "I thought you might like some pics from me.
We visited Gmunden 3 weeks ago and it was so beautiful again. Gmunden is such a sweet old town in the "Salzkammergut", a region in Upper Austria with a long history with salt, that made this region wealthy a long time ago. Schloss Ort is a little castle on a small island connected via a beautiful wooden bridge. I do Like these old houses, especially the municipal."
"Gmunden has some some very fine pastry shops, or is it called confectionery? It’s a place where you can eat the best pastries and drink coffee or tea or eat ice cream. This one has historical photographs of their most famous visitors, all artists from a time long ago. Only we older people still know their names."
"Here are some pics of Lake Traunsee"
How about that? A visit to Austria from home?
AT 17, HE NOTICED CHILDREN IN HIS OWN COMMUNITY COULDN’T AFFORD SWIMMING LESSONS. SO HE HELPED 780 OF THEM GET INTO THE WATER FOR FREE.
Jeremiah Carnegie trains every day at the London Aquatics Centre—the swimming venue built for the 2012 Olympics.
But while watching clubs from across London use the world-class facility, he noticed something troubling.
Children living right there in Newham were barely represented.
For many local families, swimming lessons were simply too expensive.
Jeremiah could have noticed the problem and moved on.
He was only 17, after all.
Instead, he decided his age wasn’t a reason to wait.
Jeremiah approached his club, NUEL, and facility operator Everyone Active. Together, they created a completely free swimming program and contacted primary schools across Newham.
What happened next was incredible.
In just two weeks, 780 children participated—and 320 entered the water for the first time in their lives.
Children without swimsuits or goggles were given them.
They received five days of swimming lessons and water-safety education.
Kids who initially needed floats simply to stay above water finished the program confidently floating on their backs.
And at the end, every child went home with a medal and certificate. 
The program attracted the attention of Newham’s mayor, and organizers began looking toward future editions.
Jeremiah didn’t have millions of pounds.
He didn’t hold political office.
He wasn’t even an adult yet.
He simply noticed that children in his community were being left behind—and decided to do something about it.
Sometimes changing your community starts with one teenager asking:
“Why shouldn’t these kids get the same opportunity?”
A 2+ minute video, This Side Up,
Just because ...
Tuesday's Smiles ...
Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.
4 comments:
Thank you for the brief virtual trip to Austria. Beautiful! Thanks to Elenor too!
The media should report stories like the 17 year old that teaches kids to swim. Imagine how the positivity & inspiration could spread!
Jacki, thanks for this wonderful blog. Thanks for sharing my poor photographs of this most beautiful region of Austria. I'm happy you and Cheryl liked them.
I too liked the story of this warmhearted 17-year-old young man. What an inspiration to many other young and also older people.
And your smiles were so lovely again. Is it the dog, which appears only once?
Thanks again, Jacki. Have a good time ahead.
Thanks, Cheryl! Yes, I love to find stories like that. They are hard to find but they are out there. I agree, Elenor does beautiful photography and she is so kind to share. Her photos almost always come when I am struggling for something special, and voila! I hope you and Johnny had a terrific weekend.
Thank you Elenor, many send their thanks as well for the terrific photos of your beautiful Austria, You saved me again, I had just had a four hour car ride from Nevada, and although it is a lovely ride with great company, I was tired. Thanks again.
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